MLB Player News

Madrigal (hamstring) had resumed some baseball activity, including taking batting practice, Cubs.com reports.

Madrigal has been sidelined since March 4 due to the right hamstring strain, but he seems to be making progress. The utility player is expected to be back later this month, and with the Cubs beginning their year March 28 in Texas, he may not have to miss the start of the regular season. The team will likely be cautious with Madrigal for the rest of the spring schedule, however.

The White Sox traded Cease to the Padres on Wednesday in exchange for Drew Thorpe, Jairo Iriarte, Steven Wilson and Samuel Zavala, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

After recent pushes from the Rangers and Yankees to acquire Cease, the right-hander will ultimately end up in San Diego, giving a much-needed boost to a Padres rotation that lost Blake Snell, Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo during the offseason. Following his brilliant 2022 campaign, Cease took a big step back in 2023 with a 4.58 ERA and 1.42 WHIP across 33 starts, though he still was able to rack up 214 strikeouts in 177 innings. Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove have already been penciled in as the Padres' starters for their season-opening series versus the Dodgers in South Korea next week, but Cease could make his Friars debut when the team return to North America for its first domestic series with the Giants from March 28 through 31.

Manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday that Treinen (chest) will travel with the Dodgers to South Korea for their season-opening series against the Padres next week, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Roberts added that he expects Treinen to be included on the Dodgers' Opening Day roster. Treinen threw 15-to-20 pitches during a bullpen session Wednesday and seemed encouraged by his performance. The Dodgers don't play any more Cactus League games before their matchup against San Diego, so Treinen may still need to throw a simulated game before making his first regular-season appearance since 2022, but he at least appears to be trending in the right direction since suffering a bruised lung last weekend.

Baty was scratched from the Mets' lineup ahead of Wednesday's spring training game versus Houston due to minor back tightness, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Describing Baty's injury as "minor" suggests the team doesn't consider his back to be a huge issue, and Baty's availability for Opening Day shouldn't be affected. The 24-year-old infielder is 7-for-29 with a homer, three RBI and six runs scored so far this spring and projects as New York's primary third baseman despite a lack of offensive production so far in his young MLB career.

Muncy (illness) said Wednesday he will travel with the Dodgers to South Korea for the season-opening series against the Padres next week, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

The 33-year-old apparently lost 10 pounds while battling a virus for most of the past week, but it appears he'll be back in time for the start of the regular season. Muncy has a week to get his strength back before Opening Day next Wednesday, when he should be locked in at third base for Los Angeles.

Profar was removed from Wednesday's Cactus League against the Athletics with an apparent leg injury, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Profar suffered the injury while rounding first base, and he subsequently limped off the field. It's poor timing for the Padres, who are finishing up their Cactus League slate ahead of the season-opening series in South Korea versus the Dodgers next week. It remains to be seen if the 31-year-old's availability for that series will be affected by the injury.

Garrett (shoulder) is expected to throw a live batting practice session as soon as this weekend, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Garrett has been slowed since the beginning of camp with left shoulder soreness, but he threw an extended bullpen session Wednesday and is days away from live BP. It would be the first time he's faced hitters this spring. Garrett will begin the season on the injured list and it's unclear how much time he might miss, but he's trending in the right direction.

Rucker hasn't made a Grapefruit League appearance since March 1 due to numbness in his right middle finger, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

The reliever has traveled back to Philadelphia in order to have his finger examined. A stint on the injured list to begin the season would certainly appear to be possible, but more will be known after he's evaluated further.

Covey (shoulder) will begin this season on the injured list, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Covey has missed much of camp with a right shoulder injury and doesn't appear to have made much progress. It's not clear at this point how long he might be sidelined. Covey could fill a long-relief role for the Phillies once healthy, though he isn't guaranteed to be included on the big-league roster.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said he expects Schwarber (groin) to return to the Grapefruit League lineup Thursday versus the Red Sox, Jayson Stark of The Athletic reports.

Schwarber was a precautionary late scratch from the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers after feeling something in his right groin in the weight room, but he's expected to be fine. The designated hitter has had a rough spring so far, going 2-for-24 with 11 strikeouts.